Drilling mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet l T. R. E. RUNDQVIST DRILLING MECHANISM Original Filed March 13, 1924 March 24, 1931.

IIIIIZZZ i March 24, 1931. T. R. E. RUNDQVIS T 1,797,445

DRILLING MECHANISM v Original Filed March 13, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Big! Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES! PATENT Q FFIFCE THORE R. E. RUNDQVIST, F GLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION- OF MASSACHUSETTS DRILLING MECHANISM Application filed March 13, 1924; Serial No. 699,113. Renewed October 30, 1929.

This invention relates to drilling mechanism.

It has for its object to provide an-improved drilling mechanism. Afurther object isto -providean improved drilling mechanism having improved feeding means therefor. Another object is to provide an improved feeding means having improved automatic means for controlling said feeding means. 19' A still further object is to provide improved automatic feed control means which i'scontrolled by pressure in the drilling motor. Another object is to provide improvedautomatic feed control means dependent for its operation upon the drilling. motor and which isadapted to vary the feedin accordance with varying degrees of resistance to rotation to the drill steel. Another object'is to provide improved automatically controlled feeding 2e means whose rate of speed. is varied in ac cordance with the varying degrees of resistance to rotation to the drillsteel or which entirely shuts oif the forwardfeed when resist ance to steel rotation becomes quite great, but

when the resistance becomes toov great,so.that

for all practical purposes the steel is stuck, then automatically to reverse the feed and: withdraw the steel until it is free torotate.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposesof illustration one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of m'y'improved drilling mechanism partly broken away to show details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical developed sectiontaken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1.

have shown the same embodied in a drifter type of drill comprising a combined feed'cylnot enough to cause the steel to stick, but

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view inder and shell 1 having a depending supporting bracket 2 and longitudinal guideways 3 mounted upon the upper side thereof.

Slidably mounted within the guideways 3 are gibs i carried by the drilling mechanism, generally indicated: at 5.

More specifically, the drilling mechanism comprises a-usual percussive motor cylinder 6 having a reciprocable piston 7 therein from; which'proj'ects a usual striking bar 8 ada'pted to cooperate with a chuck mechanism 9 rotatably mounted within a chuck housing 1-0 carried on the front end of the cylinder 6, while the other end of the cylinder carries a rear head 11 within which is mounted rotation mechanism including suitablepawl and ratchet mechanisnnnot shown, and a usual rifle bar 12 projecting forwardly into the piston 7 to cause partial rotation thereof upon rearward movement of the piston, whereas upon forward movement thereof the ratchet mechanism permits the rifle bar 12 to freely rotate. Itwill thus be seen that the chuck mechanism 9 will be rotated through the striking bar 8 upon rearward movement of the piston 7. Also carried in the rear head is a usual main-control valve 13 which'controls' flow of fluid through a passage 14 ton suitable fluid distribution valve mechanismgenerally designated 15 from which passages 16'and 17 lead to the front and rear endsof said cylinder to act alternately as exhaust and inlet passages. Usual throw ports 18' and 19 have communication with the front and rear ends of the cylinder to control the distributing valve movement.

The feeding mechanism comprisesan arm 20 projecting rearwardly from the lower side of the head 11 and terminating indownwardly projecting arms 21 and 22 which carry at their'lower end a conical bored member 23 within whose bore a plug member 24' is fixed as by a nut 25. Threadedly connectedto a reduced extension 26 of the plug 24 is a hollow piston rod 27 which 7 projects forwardly through a combined rear cylinder head and packing member 28 while carrying at its forward end a feedpiston 29, the forward end of the cylinder being closed as by a front head- 30. Also carried by the plug 24 is a fluid conducting tube 31 which projects forwardly from a bore 32 and terminates in a head 33 held in the forward end of the bore of the piston rod 27, said tube having communication with the front end of the cylinder as by a hollow flanged nut 34 threadedly connected to the piston rod 27 and adapted to hold the piston 29 in position.

As it is the purpose of my improved feeding means to provide an improved automatic feed control which will be dependent upon the drilling motor for its operation, I have shown a fluid controlled pilot valve 35 reciprocably mounted within a bore 36 formed in a valve 37 which is rotatably mounted within a sleeve 38 fixed within the rear head 11, these elements forming the control valve 13. The normal forward feeding position of the pilot valve 35 is as shown in Fig. 2 and in this position live fluid pressure will flow to the rear side of the piston 29 from a supply conduit 39 as by a chamber 40, ports 41 and 42 and groove 43, and ports 44 and 45. The port 45 terminates in the central portion of the bore 36 and is adapted to have communication with an annular groove 46 formed in the valve 35 in turn communicating with ports 47 and 48 formed in the valve 37 and sleeve 38, the port 48 communicating with a passage 49 which leads through the arm 20, member 22, and to the hollow portion of the piston rod 27 and out through a port 50 to the rear side of the piston 29 to move the same forwardly. During this operation the forward end of the cylinder is vented to the atmosphere as by ports 51 and 52 formed in the valve 37 and sleeve 38, the latter port communicating with an annular groove 53 formed in the pilot valve 35 which in turn communicates with ports 54 and 55, passage 56 formed in the arm 20 and member 21, and chamber 32 which is in communication with the front end of the cylinder as by the conducting tube 31, thereby venting the front end of said cylinder to the atmosphere. Also leading from the passage 56 to the bore 36 are ports 57 and 58, the latter being normally cut off as by the valve 35.

Suitable means are provided for offering varying degrees of resistance to movement of the pilot valve 35, such means comprising enlarged and reduced bores 59 and 60 formed in said pilot valve and within which is mounted a stem 61 having an enlarged head 62 adapted to seat against the shoulder formed at the juncture of said bores and held in seated position as by a relatively stiff spring 63 adapted to seat against-a plug 64 threadedly connected adjacent one end of said bore to the valve 35. Thus the spring 63 does not affect normally the relative position of the valves 35 and 37, it being noted that the stem 61 is spaced from a plug 64 which closes one end of the bore 36. However, the valve 35 is normally held in its rearward position as by a relatively light spring 65 seated upon the front side of the head 62 and against the plug 64 In order that this valve might be actuated to control the forward and reverse feeds, I have provided a passage 66 leading from the forward motor cylinder passage 16 to the rear end of the bore 36 as by a port 67, while the rear end of the cylinder 6 has communication with the front end of the valve 35 as by a passage 68 and a port 69 formed in the valve 37. In order to actuate the valve 35 independently of the drilling motor, I have provided a stem 70 which engages at its front end the plug 64, while its rear end engages an arm 71 operated by a trigger control lever 72 pivotally mounted upon the main control valve handle 73.

In the operation of my device the valve 35 will assume its position as shown in Fig. 2 and the main control valve will be turned to allow flow of fluid from the conduit 39 to the distributing valve mechanism 15 and to bring ports 41 and 42 into register, thus allowing flow of fluid to the forward feed through the ports 45, 48, groove 46 and passage 49 to the rear side of the cylinder, the front side being vented as previously described. Assuming that the motor has normal operation and a full piston stroke, the pressure in each end of the cylinder 6 will be communicated to each end of the valve 35 by means of passages 66 and 6S communicating respectively with the motor passages 16 and 17 and the bore 36, thus causing no substantial movement of said valve due to the fact that the pressure fluctuations within the motor cylinder occur very rapidly. If new the resistance to rotation of the steel should be increased above normal, the piston 7 upon its rearward stroke will not move quite so freely as when the resistance was only normal. The result is a slowing down of the piston and a slight short stroking thereof due to the fact that the valve throwing port 18 is uncovered by a relatively slower moving piston admitting live pressure fluid from the cylinder 6 to the valve mechanism 15 in the usual manner, which will allow the valve (not shown) of the valve mechanism 15 to be thrown before the piston 7 has reached its normal rearward position, this resulting in the pressure in the rear side of the piston prematurely acting thereupon to throw the same forwardly, thus causing what is known as short stroking. As the piston rotates the steel on its rearward stroke, it will be obvious that a greater pressure would have to be exerted on the forward side of the piston than is required on the rear side of the piston to drive the piston forwardly against no substantial external resistance. Thus, the greater the resistance to steel rotation the greater will be the pressure in the front end of the cylinder, thus resulting in a greater pressure being transmitted to the rear end of the pilot valve 35 than is to the front end thereof, which causes movement of the valve in a right hand direction against the tension of the relatively light spring to vary the flow of fluid through the port 47 leading to the rear end of the cylinder. If the resistance to rotation should become such that it is not sullicient to reverse the feed but keep the forward feet stationary, the valve 35 will move until the end of the stem 61 engages the plug 64R, it being prevented from having further movement by the relatively stiff spring 63. In this position the forward feed is shut off but not vented to the atmosphere, it being understood that the ports 5d, 47 and 58 are closed by the valve 35 as clearly shown in Fig. i. If, however, the resistance to steel rotation should become so great that the rotation is practically inoperative, the piston '2' stops on its rearward stroke thus allowing pressure in the rear end of the drilling motor cylinder to he exhausted to atmosphere through passages (not shown) in the usual manner, thus venting the forward end of the bore 36 through port 69 and passage 68 and leavin pressure only on the rear end of the bore 36, which pressure is transmitted from the front end of the motor cylinder through passages 66 and ports 67 to throw the valve against tie tension of the relatively heavy spring 68. In this new position live air will flow from the port i5 around annular groove 46 and out passage 57 to the reverse passage 56 leading to the front side of the piston 29. At the same time the port 55 is shut off by the forward end of the valve 35, while the forward feed port 47 is adapted to have communication with the atmosphere as by annular groove 53 and port 52, thus venting the rear end of the cylinder 1.

It will thus be seen that by my improved device the relative weakness of the spring 65 will allow relatively easy movementof the valve 35 in accordance with the varying degrees of pressure within the front end of the cylinder 1 which in one phase of its operation is dependent upon the varying degrees of resistance to rotation to the drill steel, thus obtaining a varying forward feeding force in accordance with the steel rotation. If, however, the steel should be prevented from rotating, he relatively heavy spring 63 is caused to yield to th n throw in the reverse feed as described.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a drillin mechanism, work performing means for actuating a drilling tool comprising a plurality of pressure fluid actuated reciprocatory tool actuating motors, and means responsive to pressure changes within one of said reciprocatory motors for controlling another motor to regulate the operation thereof automatically in accordance with the nature of the work encountered by the drilling tool during drilling, said automatic means also including mechanism operative to stop automatically said latter motor when the pressure in said other motor exceeds a. predetermined amount.

2. In a drilling mechanism, work performing means comprising a plurality of pressure fluid actuated reciprooatory motors, one of which is reversible, and means responsive to pressure changes in one of said motors for controlling said reversible motor for regulating autom ""cally the power thereof in acthe requirements of the work during drilling, said automatic means also including mechanism operative to reverse said reversiole motor.

3. In a drilling mechanism, work performing means comprising a plurality of pressure fluid actuated reciprocatory motors, and means responsive to pressure changes in one of said reciprocatory motors within certain predetermined limits for regulating the operati on of another motor automatically in accordance with the requirements of the work during drilling, said automatic means including mechanism operative to stop said latter motor when said limit is exceeded.

4-. In a dr lling mechanism, work performing means comprising a plurality of pressure fluid actuated reciprocatory motors one of which is re 'ersible, and means responsive to p essure changes within one of said motor within certain predetermined limits for controlling said reversible motor to regulate the power thereof automatically in accordance with the requirements of the work during drilling, said automatic means including mechanism operative to reverse said latter motor when said limit is exceeded.

5. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated impact motor, a drill steel actuated. thereby, feeding means for the steel for feeding the latter forward during drilling, and means responsive to the varia tions of pressure within said impact motor for controlling said feeding means, said controlling means including nieehanism freely yielding to pressure variations up to a certain degree and offering relati ely marked increased resistance when said degree is exceeded.

6. In a drilling mechanism, work performing means for actuating a drilling tool comprising a plurality of tool actuating motors Hit) one of which is of a reciprocatory type, and means responsive to load changes on said reciprocatory motor within certain predetermined limits for controlling another motor to regulate the operation thereof automatically in accordance *ith the nature of the work encountered by said drilling tool during drilling, said automatic means including mechanism operative to stop said latter motor when said limit is exceeded.

'4'. In a drilling mechanism, work performing means for actuating a drilling tool comprising a plurality of reciprocatory tool actuating motors, one of which is reversible, and means responsive to load changes on one of said reciprocatory motors within certain predetermined limits for controlling said reversible motor to regulate the power thereof automatically in accordance with the nature of the work encountered by the drilling tool during drilling, said automatic means including mechanism ope; e to reverse said latter motor when said limit is exceeded.

8. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actua ed ii pact motor, a drill steel actuated thereby, feeding means for the steel for feeding the latter forward during drilling, and means responsive to the varia tions of pressure within said impact moto; for automatically controlling said feeding means, said controlling means including mechanism responsive to sharply distinct degrees of pressure variations to effect different controlling functions.

9. In a drilling mechanism, work performing means comprising a plurality of pressure fluid actuated reciprocatory motors one or which is reversible, and means responsive to variations of pressure within one of said motors within certain predetermined limits for controlling said reversible motor to regulate the operation thereof automatically in accordance with the requirements of the work during drilling, said automatic means also being responsive to a greater pressure lll'SEUCl motor for automatically stopping and reversing said reversible motor.

10. A drilling mechanism comprising an impact motor, a drill steel actuated by said motor, means for positively feeding saio drill steel forward and rearward, and means reponsive to load changes on said impact motor for controlling the power of both the rearward and forward feeds in the event of and in accordance with such load changes to regulate the power thereof automatically in accordance with the 113s re of the work encountered by said drill steel during drilling.

11. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid operated impact motor, a drill steel actuated by said motor, means for posi tively feeding said drill steel forward or rearward, and means responsive to the variations of pressure in said impact motor within certain predetermined limits for controlling the forward feeding means to regulate the power thereof automatically in accordance with the nature of the work encountered by said drill steel during drilling and for subsequently stopping said forward feed when said limit is exceeded and effecting operation of said rearward feed.

12. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated drilling motor for actuating the drill steel, means for rotating the steel, means for positively feeding the steel forward or rearward, and means responsive to variations of pressure within said drillin motor up to acertain predetermined limit for controlling said forward feed to regulate the power thereof automatically in accordance with the nature of the work encountered by the drill steel during drilling and when said limit is exceeded to effect automatically operation of said rearward feed.

13. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated drilling motor for actuating a drill steel, means for rotating the steel, reversible feeding means for the steel for feeding the latter forward or rearward, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said drilling motor for controlling said feeding means to regulate the power thereof automatically in accordance with the nature of the work encountered by the drill st el during drilling, said automatic means including mechanismoperative to reverse automatically said feeding means when the rotation of the drill steel is prevented.

14. In a drilling mechanism, work performing meanscomprising a plurality of reciprocatory motors one of which is reversible, and means responsive to load changes in one of said motors for controlling said reversible motor to regulate the power thereof automatically in accoroance w' th the requirements of the work during drilling or to subsequently reverse said reversible motor in the event of and in accordance with such load changes.

15. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated impact motor, a drill steel actuated thereby, rotation means for the steel, feeding means for the steel for feeding the latter forward during drilling, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said impact motor for automatically controlling said feeding means, said controlling means including mechanism having sharply distinct degrees of responsiveness to said pressure variations in accorcance with different degrees of pressure variation within said motor.

16. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated impact motor. a drill steel actuated thereby, means for feeding the steel forward and rearward, and means responsive to pressure changes within said impact motor for controlling one ofsaid feeds to regulate the power thereof automatically in accordance with the nature of the work encountered by the drill steel during drilling, and for effecting operation of said other feed.

17. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fl d actuated impact motor for ac tuating a ll steel, feeding means for the steel to effectforward feed thereof during drilling, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said impact motor for automatically 1' gulating the power of said feeding means during the maintenance of drill feed in accordance with the nature of the work encountered bv the drill steel during drilling. U

18. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated impact motor for actuating a drill steel, forward and reverse feeding means therefor, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said imgact motor for automatically regulating the power of said forward feed to adjust the rate of forward feed in accordance with the nature of the work encountered by the drill steel during drilling.

19. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated impact motor, forward and reverse feeding means therefor, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said impact motor for automatically regulating the power of said forward feed to regulate the rate of forward feed in accordance with the nature of the work encountered during dril ing, said automatic means comprising a single pressure fluid actuated valve member for controlling the feeding means.

20. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated drilling motor of the hammer type, feeding means for said motor to effect forward feed thereof during drilling, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said drillin motor for controlling said feeding means, said controlling means having sharply distinct degrees of responsiveness to said pressure variations.

21. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressu e fluid actuated drilling motor of the hammer type, feeding means for said motor to effect forward feed thereof during drilling, and means responsive to pressure variations caused by load changes on said drilling motor for automatically controlling said feeding means, said controlling means having sharply distinct degrees of responsiveness to said pressure variations and comprising mechanism to vary the rate of feed up to a, predetermined point and for further affecting said feed when said point is exceeded.

22. A drilling mechanism comprising a drilling tool, a pressure fluid actuated tool actuating motor cooperating therewith, feeding means for the tool to effect forward feed thereof during drilling, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said motor for controlling said feeding means,

said controlling means having sharply distinct degrees of responsiveness to said pressure variations comprising mechanism to vary the rate of feed up to a predetermined point and for further aflecting said feed when said point is exceeded and having a plurality of operative connections with said motor.

23. A drilling mechanism comprising a rotatable drill steel, a pressure fluid actuated steel actuating motor cooperating therewith, feeding means for the steel to effect forward feed thereof during drilling, and means responsive to variations of pressure within said motor for automatically controlling said feeding means, said controlling means having sharply distinct degrees of responsiveness to said pressure variations comprising mechanism to vary the rate of feed up to a predetermined point and for further affecting said feed when said a plurality of pressure fluid connections with said motor.

24. A drilling mechanism comprising a rotatable drill steel, a pressure fluid actuated steel actuating motor cooperatin therewith, feeding means for the steel to effect forward feed thereof during drilling, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said motor for automatically controlling said feeding means, saidcontrolling means having sharply distinct degrees of responsiveness to saidpressure variations comprising mechanism to vary the rate of feed up to a predetermined point and for further affecting said feed when said point is exceeded and having a plurality of operative connections with said motor.-

25. A drilling mechanism comprising a rotatable drill steel, a pressure fluid actuated motor cooperating therewith, feeding means for said steel to effect forward feed thereof during drilling, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said motor caused by the resistance to steel rotation for automatically controlling said feeding means and having a plurality of separate yieldable means adapted to control the same in accord ance with markedly different degrees of resistance to steel rotation, said controlling means having a plurality of pressure fluid connections with said motor.

26. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated impact motor, a drill steel actuated thereby, feeding means for the steel to effect forward feed thereof during drilling, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said motor for automatically controlling said feeding means and having a plurality of separate yieldable means adapted to control the same in accordance with markedly different degrees of pressure variation, said controlling means having a plurality of pressure fluid connections with said motor.

27, A drilling comprising point is exceeded and having pressure fluid actuated impact motor, a drill steel actuated thereby, feeding means for the steel to efiect forward feed thereof during drilling, and means responsive to the variations of pressure within said impact motor for automatically controlling said feeding means, said controlling means including mechanism freely yieldable to pressure variations up to a certain predetermined degree and offering relatively marked increased resistance when said degree is exceeded, said controlling means having a plurality of pressure fluid connections with said impact motor.

28. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated impact motor, a drill steel actuated by said motor, means for rotating said steel, means for feeding said steel forwardly during drilling, and means responsive to pressure changes within said impact motor within certain predetermined limits for controlling said feeding means to regulate the power thereof automatically in accordance with the nature of the work encountered by the drill steel during drilling, said controlling means including mechanism operative to stop said feeding means when said limit is exceeded.

29. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated impact motor, a drill steel actuated by said motor, means for rotating said steel, means for feeding said steel forwardly during drilling, and means responsive to pressure changes within said impact motor within certain predetermined limits for controlling said feeding means to regulate the power thereof automatically in accordance with the requirements of the work encountered by the drill steel during drilling, said controlling means including mechanism operative to further affect said feeding means when said limit is exceeded.

30. A drilling mechanism comprising a pressure fluid actuated impact motor, a drill steel actuated thereby, means for rotating said steel, reversible feeding means for feeding the steel forward and rearward, and means responsive to pressure changes within said impact motor within certain predetermined limits for controlling said feeding means to regulate the power thereof automatically in accordance with the requirements of the work encountered by the drill steel during drilling, said controlling means including mechanism operative to reverse said feeding means when said limit is exceeded.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THORE R. E. RUNDQVIST. 

